Collapsible furniture

ABSTRACT

Furniture such as chairs, arm chairs, tables or the like, which are collapsible; elements of the furniture being hingedly connected together to permit movement of the hinged elements between collapsed and set up conditions, together with means rigidly locking the hinged elements together in their set up condition, yet being releasable to allow for collapse of the furniture.

United States Patent 1 Novitzky Mar. 27, 1973 COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE [76] Inventor: Anatol Novitzky, 788 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY. 10025 [22] Filed: May 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 143,903

[52] U.S. C1. ..297/440, 108/132, 297/37 [51] Int. Cl ,.A47c 4/02, A47c 7/00 [58] Field of Search........297/36, 37, 42,54, 53, 117,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,788,060 4/1957 Shepherdson ..108/132 923,344 6/1909 Faller 297/37 1,978,870 10/1934 Thuren ..297/37 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 948,646 8/1949 France 108/132 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Philip G. Hilbert [57] ABSTRACT Furniture such as chairs, arm chairs, tables or the like, which are collapsible; elements of the furniture being hingedly connected together to permit movement of the hinged elements between collapsed and set up conditions, together with means rigidly locking the hinged elements together in their set up condition, yet being releasable to allow for collapse of the furniture.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,952

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Ana'l'ol Novifzky ATTORNEY Patented March 27, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,952

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Collpasible furniture is well known in the art; the furniture in its collapsed condition being of reduced bulk and requiring minimum storage space when the same is not in use; as well as facilitating the transportation thereof.

In such known furniture constructions, the elements are usually interpivoted for appropriate movement thereof between their collapsed and set up conditions. However, the interpivoted elements are not rigidly interconnected in their set up condition which reduces the stability thereof in use. Further, such known constructions may have a tendency to inadvertently move from their set up condition to the collapsed condition thereof.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide A an improved furniture construction of the collapsible type, wherein the elements thereof are hingedly connected together, and means being provided for rigidly locking the hinged elements in their set up condition.

Another object of this invention is to provide furniture of the character described, wherein the locking means is readily released to allow for convenient collapse of the furniture elements.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a furniture construction of the character described, an assembly of components in hingedly connected relation, together with releasable locking means of simple construction; the furniture having every appearance of being of the rigid, non-collapsible type, yet being easily and quickly collapsed as desired.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a furniture construction of the character described, having novel locking means so related to hinge means for rendering the furniture collapsible; as to produce a sta ble, rigid structure in the set up condition thereof; the locking means being compact and non-interfering with the collapse and folding of the furniture elements,

Still another object of this invention is to provide in furniture of the character described, locking means including elements for compressing and locking hinged portions thereof together.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in furniture of the character described locking which includes wedge means operative to draw opposed portions of hinged elements tightly together.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an arm chair embodying the invention, with the seat and back cushions removed;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view thereof, showing the chair in a partially collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the locking elements in their operative condition;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another form of locking means in its operative condition;

FIG. 6 is a'top plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an arm chair in which the back, arms and legs are foldable relative to the seat, and including means for locking the folded elements in their set up condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the elements of the chair shown in FIG. 7, in a partially collapsed condition;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the locking means of the chairshown in FIG. 7, in its operative condition;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view showing a chair in its fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a table embodying the invention; in a partially collapsed condition; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the locking means of the table, in its operative condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Essentially, the furniture of the instant invention, such as chairs, tables and the like; have portions thereof hingedly interconnected to render the same collapsible when not in use. Such furniture further includes means for rigidly locking the hinged portions thereof when the furniture is in its set up condition; the locking means being readily releasable to allow for rapid and easy collapse of the furniture.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, a chair embodying the invention is generally indicated at 10. The same comprises a base or seat cushion receiving portion, a back member 12 hingedly connected to base 11, as by spaced hinges l3; and combined side arm and leg portions 14 hingedly connected to the sides of base 11.

The base 11 comprises an inner, open rectangular frame member 15 having side portions 16 and end portions 17, together with an outer rectangular frame member 18 enclosing inner frame member 15, and having side portions 19 and end portions 20, 20A. A facing member 21 is affixed to the outer surface of frame portion 20 and a mounting member 22 is affixed to the outer surface of frame portion 20A.

The combined side arm and leg portions 14 comprise side portions 23 having legs 24, 25 depending therefrom; arm portions 26 upstanding therefrom; and an upstanding extension 27 of rear legs 25.

Means is provided for higedly connecting the combined side arm and leg portions 14 to base 11. To this end there are provided hinges 30 whose leaves 31 are secured to inner surface portions of side portions 23, while leaves 32 are secured to the outer surface of side portions 19 of outer frame member 18.

Locking means is provided for rigidly interconnecting the hinged portions of chair 10, in its set up condition. To this end a pair of angular locking brackets 34 are mounted on the inner surface of side portions 23 by way of flat arms 35 thereof. Brackets 34 include curved arms 36 which project toward base 11. Side portions 19 of frame member 18 are formed with curved slots for passing bracket arms 36 therethrough, as base portion 11 and side portions 14 are hingedly moved to a set up condition thereof.

The opposed surfaces of frame portions 19 and side portions 23 are pressed together to provide a rigid interconnection therebetween. To this end, there is provided a tapered wedging member 40 for insertion in opening 41 formed in frame member portions 18. Bracket arms 36 are formed with openings 42 and are adapted to receive lower end portions of member 40 when the same is inserted in opening 41. Openings 41 and 42 are in slightly offset relation to each other, to

thereby provide a wedging action by members 40. Members 40 bear on one side thereof against a wedge plate 43 mounted on frame portions 19 and on the other side thereof against the far side of opening 42 in bracket arm 36, thereby moving the bearing surfaces relatively in opposite directions.

It will be apparent that members 40 are effective to tightly compress the opposed surfaces of frame portions 19 and side portions 23, to effect a rigid connec tion therebetween. As the action of members 40 is concentrated at positions spaced from the hinge axis 30A of hinges 30, stability of the thus locked portions is insured.

Another form of locking means is shown in FIGS. 5, 6. Here the same comprises an angle bracket 45 which includes an intermediate arm portion 46 and depending arm portions 47, 48 at the opposite ends thereof respectively. Arm portion 47 is suitably secured to inner surface portions of side portions 23. The intermediate arm portion 46 has a length greater then the combined thickness of frame members 16, 19, so that the outer, depending arm portion 48 is located in spaced relation to the inner surface of frame member 16, when the portions 14 and base 11 are in their set up condition.

A set screw 49 is threaded into an opening in arm portion 48; the outer end of said screw 49 bearing on an abutment plate 50 mounted on frame member 16. It will be apparent that a compressive force may be exerted by turning set screw 49 in the proper direction, at a point spaced from the hinging axis 30A of hinge 30, to effect a rigid interconnection of hinged parts 11, 14. The lock is readily released by turning screw 49 in the other direction, allowing parts 11, 14 to be hingedly moved to their collapsed condition.

In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 7-9; the chair 60 comprises a base seat portion 61 having upstanding side flange portions 62.and an upstanding back flange 63 to which a back member 64 is hinged as at 65. Leg assemblies 66 with legs 67 depending from a cross member 67A are hingedly connected to seat portion 61 by hinges 70 mounted on inwardly directed flange portions 71 of leg assemblies 66.

Side arm assemblies 68 having bottom portions 68A and top portions 688, are hingedly connected to seat flanges 62 by hinges 70A. Latches 69 on the rear of top portions 683 connect the back member 64 to side arm assemblies 68.

Means for locking the severally hingedly connected portions of chair 60 is provided. To this end, angle brackets 75 having the short arm 76 thereof fixed to the underside of seat portion 61, and a curved arm 77 adapted to project through a curved slot 78 formed in side portion 79 of assembly 66; are adapted to be engaged by a curved wedging portion 81 of a member 83 fixed to side arm portion 68A.

The curved arm 77 is formed with an opening 80 to receive wedging portion 81 of member 83, as it projects through an opening 82 which intersects slot 78. Further, the openings 80, 82 are in offset relation so that wedging portions 81 bearing on a wedge plate 84 mounted on flange portions 71, is effective to progressively draw hinged members 66, 68 and 61 together in tightly locked relation to each other, when said membets are moved to their set up condition. Thus, the

locking action takes place automatically as the chair is set up to its erect condition.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 12, a Table T embodying the invention, comprises a top member and leg assemblies 91 on opposite sides thereof; only one assembly being shown. Assemblies 91 comprise a pair of legs 92 interconnected by a spreader 93 and inwardly directed flange portions 94. Hinges 95 connect top 90 to assemblies 91 by way of hinge leaves 96, 97 respectively mounted on an underside portion of top, 90 and an upper portion of flange portions 94.

Means for releasably locking the top member 90 to leg assemblies 91, in their set up condition, is provided. To This end, brackets 98 having flat arms 99 secured to underside portions of top 90 and located in positions forwardly spaced from the hinge axes of hinges 95; are arranged to have curved arms 100 thereof to pass through curved slots 101 formed in flanges 94 of assemblies 91.

The curved arms 100 are formed with openings 102 which are adapted to receive tapered wedge members 103 introduced by way of openings 104 in spreader 93. The openings 102 and 104 are eccentrically related to each other, whereby the wedge members 103 are effective to draw the hinged members 90, 91 tightly together and in locked relationship.

The furniture constructions of the instant invention are readily collapsed, as typically indicated in FIG. 10, wherein the several portions of chair 60 are in collapsed, stacked relation. The locking elements 77, 81 project outwardly of the stacked portions for only a short distance.

I claim:

1. Collapsible furniture comprising first and second members, means hingedly connecting said members together for movement between collapsed and set up conditions thereof, and coacting means on said first and second members remote from the hinging axis of said hinging means for compressing opposed extended surface members of said first and second portions together and retaining said first and second members in releasable locked fixed relation to each other in the set up condition thereof.

2. Furniture as in claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a base member and said second member comprises a leg member.

3. Furniture as in claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a third member mounted on saId first member and having an outer end portion located adjacent the far side of said second member, and means on said third end member of said member for progressively and compressively abutting an extended surface portion of the far side of said second portion.

4. Furniture as in claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a first element mounted on and extending from said first member toward said second member, said second member being formed with an opening for passing said first element therethrough as said first and second members are moved toward their set up condition, said coacting means further comprising a second element in engaged relation to said first element whereby to compress said first and second members together.

5. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said coacting means comprises a first element mounted on and extending from said first member toward said second member and expansion means movably engageable with said first element for progressively compressing the opposed surface portions of said first and second members together.

6. Furniture as in claim 1 and further including a third member hingedly connected to one of said first and second members, said coacting means comprising a first member projecting from said third member and a second element projecting from one of said first and second members for progressively engaging said first element as said members are moved from their collapsed condition to their set up condition, whereby to progressively compress opposed extended surface portions of said first and second members.

7. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises a table top and said second member comprises leg means, said coacting means comprising bracket means mounted on the underside of said table top, said leg means being formed with a slot for passing the projecting portion of said bracket means therethrough when said table top and leg means are hingedly moved to their set up condition, and expansion means movably engageable with the projecting portion of said bracket means and bearing against a surface portion of said leg means for progressively compressing opposed extended surface portions of said table top and said leg means together.

8. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises chair side portions and said second-member comprises a chair seat portion including a frame member, said coacting means comprising bracket means mounted on the inner side of said chair side portions, said frame member being formed with a slot for passing the projecting end of said bracket means therethrough upon hinged movement of said side and seat portions to a set up condition thereof, and wedge means movably mounted on the projecting end of said bracket means for progressive wedging movement relative to an inner surface portion of said frame member.

9. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said coacting means comprises a bracket member having one end thereof mounted on said first member, said bracket member having an intermediate member extending about an edge portion of said second portion when said first and second members are hingedly moved to their set up condition, said bracket member further including an outer end portion, and means adjustably mounted on the outer end portion of said bracket member for abutting an inner surface member of said second member whereby to progressively compress said hingedly connected first and second members together.

10. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises chair side portions, said second member comprises a seat frame member, and further including leg means, hinged means for connecting said leg means to said seat frame member, said coacting means comprising bracket members mounted on said seat frame member, said leg means being formed with slots for passing the forwardly projecting end portions of said bracket members therethrough and expansion means mounted on said chair side portions for progressively engaging the projecting end portions of bracket members as said chair side portions, seat frame member and leg means are hingedly moved relative to each other to the set up condition thereof, whereby to progressively compress extended opposed surface portions of said frame member and said leg means together, to provide a rigid connection therebetween. 

1. Collapsible furniture comprising first and second members, means hingedly connecting said members together for movement between collapsed and set up conditions thereof, and coacting means on said first and second members remote from the hinging axis of said hinging means for compressing opposed extended surface members of said first and second portions together and retaining said first and second members in releasable locked fixed relation to each other in the set up condition thereof.
 2. Furniture as in claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a base member and said second member comprises a leg member.
 3. Furniture as in claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a third member mounted on saId first member and having an outer end portion located adjacent the far side of said second member, and means on said third end member of said member for progressively and compressively abutting an extended surface portion of the far side of said second portion.
 4. Furniture as in claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a first element mounted on and extending from said first member toward said second member, said second member being formed with an opening for passing said first element therethrough as said first and second members are moved toward their set up condition, said coacting means further comprising a second element in engaged relation to said first element whereby to compress said first and second members together.
 5. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said coacting means comprises a first element mounted on and extending from said first member toward said second member and expansion means movably engageable with said first element for progressively compressing the opposed surface portions of said first and second members together.
 6. Furniture as in claim 1 and further including a third member hingedly connected to one of said first and second members, said coacting means comprising a first member projecting from said third member and a second element projecting from one of said first and second members for progressively engaging said first element as said members are moved from their collapsed condition to their set up condition, whereby to progressively compress opposed extended surface portions of said first and second members.
 7. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises a table top and said second member comprises leg means, said coacting means comprising bracket means mounted on the underside of said table top, said leg means being formed with a slot for passing the projecting portion of said bracket means therethrough when said table top and leg means are hingedly moved to their set up condition, and expansion means movably engageable with the projecting portion of said bracket means and bearing against a surface portion of said leg means for progressively compressing opposed extended surface portions of said table top and said leg means together.
 8. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises chair side portions and said second member comprises a chair seat portion including a frame member, said coacting means comprising bracket means mounted on the inner side of said chair side portions, said frame member being formed with a slot for passing the projecting end of said bracket means therethrough upon hinged movement of said side and seat portions to a set up condition thereof, and wedge means movably mounted on the projecting end of said bracket means for progressive wedging movement relative to an inner surface portion of said frame member.
 9. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said coacting means comprises a bracket member having one end thereof mounted on said first member, said bracket member having an intermediate member extending about an edge portion of said second portion when said first and second members are hingedly moved to their set up condition, saId bracket member further including an outer end portion, and means adjustably mounted on the outer end portion of said bracket member for abutting an inner surface member of said second member whereby to progressively compress said hingedly connected first and second members together.
 10. Furniture as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises chair side portions, said second member comprises a seat frame member, and further including leg means, hinged means for connecting said leg means to said seat frame member, said coacting means comprising bracket members mounted on said seat frame member, said leg means being formed with slots for passing the forwardly projecting end portions of said bracket members therethrough and expansion means mounted on said chair side portions for progressively engaging the projecting end portions of bracket members as said chair side portions, seat frame member and leg means are hingedly moved relative to each other to the set up condition thereof, whereby to progressively compress extended opposed surface portions of said frame member and said leg means together, to provide a rigid connection therebetween. 